The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-10-02
PNEUMATIC WARFARE.
t See ms the New "Dynamfse Gun
May Prove y Peace maker.
New York Herald.

New York Herald.
The future Of the so called "dyna-
mite gun" may still be said to DO
problematical, though the recent ex-
periments have apparently demon
strated that as o means OF coast de-
Tense it will prove q most important
factor in warfare.
Upon a permanent platform, under
favorable circumstances, compare
lively small TARGET has been de-
stroyed at the distance OF over q
mile.
Would the same gun under I'M
favorable circumstauces--say, for
instance, mounted upon q ship roll
ing in a heavy sea, with its projectiles
exposed to a stiff breeze-have done
so well2" is asked by the artillery
experts.
President Schuyler, OF the gun
company, says YES aud hclds that
the dynamite gun is lighter, easier to
handle and more accurate than a
powder gun OF the Same caliber.
And, what is more important, ac-
cording to the military critics, the
gun company is sanguine OF greatly
periectiug the new weapon and
largely Increasing its range and the
weight of gelatinc projectiles.
Such q state OF affairs, tending to
revolutiouiEe modern warfare, could
not fail to attract the attention Of
foreign governments, and the gun
company is not only in correspond
ence with every existing government,
but representatives OF number OF
| the powers are at present in this
city bent upon gauging the new
weapons worth and forwarding ex'
haustive reports 10 their respective
superiors.
| One of the powers, Italy, has al
| ready taken the bull by the HORNS
and promptly contracted for a sam
pie pneumatic dynamite gun"
The contract referred 10, it is un'
derstood, was made quite recently
but President Schuyler refused t.
furnish any particulars as 10 the con
tracts made between foreign govern
ments and his company, claiming
that il would not be just for eithc
of the parties concerned.
| From other sources, however,
| aerald reporter learned that tn
Italian Government had assurcdl
contracted 10 purchase one OF tn
new ssas. =,
Italy, IL is understood, agrees I
nav l25,O00t. 1926, 000) for an eigh
| inch gun capable Of throwing lO
pounds of dynamite a distance OF on
mile. Duripg the trials OF this gul
in Italy, probably at SpozEia, thirt
proiectiles are to be fired before tn
Italian Board Of Engineers, and tn
experiments will be considered sat
isfactory il five projectiles, each con
tanning a charge OF 100 pounds {
explosive gelatine, reach the dii
tance Of 1900 meters and have at thl
range fallen in o space measuring
meters front and having q width
! 20 meters. -,
Curiously enough japan was Ii
6rst country TO notice the new d.
parture in warfare, and some yeai
aro, when the subject was first dii
cussed, applied to tho Secretary
, War, at Washington, Tor iniorm
r ton upon the matter.
T China was the next country TO Ia
y stock in the dynamite gun, a
It wished the gun company, at I
. time OF her troubles in Tonqu
d 10 manufacture a number OF the n,
= guns and forward them instantly.
Q the Celestial Empire. But at Oh
Q time the gun company was not in
u position TO gil the contract at q
short notice.
D Since then, Great Britain, Franc
Germany, Austria, Prussia, Ital
Spain, Peru, Chill aud other cou
tries have become greatly interest,
in the turn OF affairs IN the world
= artillery, and several OF these u
! tions have commissions 10 this oi
= who are intontly studying the nc
= proieotiles.
Among these commissions is u
I one sent by tho British gOyernmeu
: consisting Of Mai. cambridge, Of Il
. Ordnance Department. and Lieu
Williams. Of the Royal Navy.
: According 10 arrangements
y standing at present, tomorrow ate
y noon a further series Of experiment
: will be tried before the British cor
!, mission and members Of the Advise
= Board, TO determine the condition
q after firing ten rounds from tho o.
perimental gun, with view Of sho,
y ing the possible rapidity Of fire Al
tie grouping Of ten projectiles alt
ere.
. Tn. advocates OF the dynami
y gun claim that IL can 10 "almO
y anything" from blowing MP 6rI
= class ironclad az one shot 10 silen
!, ins a fort with ono projectilc.
y On the other hand, the opponen
!, Of the new sun claim that, A. mode
y science has rendered IL possible
n make a COED defense against 10
= pcdoos aud torpedo boats, Il Is al
y possible TO defend a ship aFain
N dynamite projeciilea. Among 4
means which they suggest TO ward
4 the coming storm arc ironclads wi
y immensely thick turtle backs"
:, decks covering the ships fore a.
a att" In the meantime, as part
v protection against dynamite projc'
y lies, Il is proposed 10 rig up stro
&c wire network Of several thickness
y covering the vessels throughout a
" rigpod a. far away from the ship
'dd possible wire umbrella 70 keep
~ The dynamite hail.